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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

have a bone to pick en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (followed by with, idiomatic, usually) To have a complaint or grievance (with somebody); to have a contentious issue to discuss.
    • Author John Putzier has a bone to pick with organizations that treat their employees as if they were all clones of one another. 2004 July 18, Smita Madhur, Barbara Kiviat, “World Briefing”, in Time:
    • "I offered her that sum if she would take the garment back. And she did, she did, and I shall never have to wear that dreadful satin again." ¶ I made a note of this dressmaker's name. She and I may have a bone to pick some day. c. 1900, Anna Katharine Green, The Ruby and the Cauldron:
    • "I have a bone to pick with you," said Mrs Bosenna. . . . "You have not been near Rilla for weeks," she went on, reproachfully. 1912, Arthur Quiller-Couch, chapter 18, in Hocken and Hunken:
    • Clearly, Mr. Jarrett has a bone to pick with musicians like Branford Marsalis, whom he believes "sell out". 1992 September 6, Merryl R. Goldberg, “Letters: Jazz”, in New York Times, retrieved 11 Jul 2011:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
having a bone to pick Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
has a bone to pick Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
had a bone to pick Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
had a bone to pick Tense=Past lexicographic

Relateds

make no bones about · have an axe to grind · have a crow to pull

Translations (20)

fr avoir une dent contre quelqu'un (have a complaint or grievance) · es tener que arreglar las cuentas con alguien (have a complaint or grievance) · ro avea o nemulțumire (have a complaint or grievance) · de ein Hühnchen zu rupfen haben (have a complaint or grievance) · ro avea o plângere (have a complaint or grievance) · sco hae a craw tae pluck (have a complaint or grievance) · nl een appeltje te schillen hebben (have a complaint or grievance) · ru име́ть прете́нзию (have a complaint or grievance) · af 'n appeltjie te skil hê (have a complaint or grievance) · ro avea o problemă de lămurit (have a complaint or grievance) · pl mieć na pieńku (have a complaint or grievance) · nn ha ei høne å plukke med (have a complaint or grievance) · sv ha en gås oplockad (have a complaint or grievance) · nb ha en høne å plukke med (have a complaint or grievance) · fi olla kana kynittävänä (have a complaint or grievance) · ro avea ceva de reproșat (have a complaint or grievance) · pl mieć kosę (have a complaint or grievance) · ro avea o răfuială (have a complaint or grievance) · cmn 有不滿 /有不满 (have a complaint or grievance) · cmn 有意見 /有意见 (have a complaint or grievance)